Electrical indicator-signal.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

' G. W. PETTEY.

ELEUTRIGAL INDICATOR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2'7. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES.

a T T a DI E 6 n 0 E G ATTORNEYS N0."789, 626 PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G.WcPETTEY.

ELECTRICAL INDIOATOR SIGNAL APPLIUATION IILED JAN. 27, 1905.

3 SEEETS-BHEBT 2.

lNl/E/VTOR GEORGE W. PETTEY A U (IRA/E 7S No. 789,626. PATENTED MAY 9,1905. G. W. PETTEY.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

a SHYBBTSSHEET a.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR A ORGEW-PETTEY ATTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1905 GEORGEIV. IETTEY, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,626, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed January 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 242,892.

To (1, 1071/0177, it may concern:

Be it known that .I, Gruoueu IV. PETIEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alexand ria, in the county of Alexandria and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Inuirovement in ElectricalIndicator-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an electrical indicator-signal of thevisual type designed to be set by electromagnetical devices andcomprehending a semaphore arm and lamp.

This indicator-signal is applicable in most of its features for generaluse; but it is especially designed for use in city streets and iscombined with a lire-engine house and the stall-door for the horses andis arranged to give conspicuous visual indication on the street that thelire-en gine is about to issue from the house.

The object of my invention is to avoid dangerous collisions between alirc-ei'igine and the street-cars or passing vehicles in the street whenthe engine is issuing from the enginehouse.

In all munici 'ialities the [ire-engine is, by virtue of the emergencyof its calls, given the right of way. It frequently ha iipens, however,in the streets of greatest tratlic that the noise of vehicles and of thestreet-cars make it impossible for the niotorman of the car or thedriver of the vehicle to hear the gong in the engine-house, with theresult that the street car or vehicle continues its passage only to [inditself immediately across the door of the engine-house at the veryinstant that the horses are dashing forth with the engine. This isliable to result in loss of life and the crippling of the engine or itsteam, so that its usefulness for the time being is destroyed at acritical juncture.

My invention provides a visual indicatorsignal in the shape of aconspimious semaphore-arm located at the curbstone and which arm atnight is provided with a light and which arm is automatically extendedto indicate danger by electrical appliances set into action through aswitch by the opening of the stablcdoor to release the horses from theirstalls; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts operating in the manner set forth, which I will now proceed tomore fully describe with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 isa perspective view of the somaphore-operatin g mechanisi'n. Fig. l is afragmental view of the outer end of the semaphore. Fig. 2 is a side viewof the semaphoreoperating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of apart of the operating mechanism. Fig. 4- is a view showing theapplication of my signal, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing thecircuit-closer on the stable-door.'

Referring to Fig. 4:, P is a post about fifteen feet high and bearing onits top a semaphore-box R and a semaphore-arm S. The post bearing thisarm is located at the curbstone, and the semaphore-arm is arranged to bedropped from an elevated position to ahorizontal position (shown indotted lines) to indicate dangeN whenever the engine is about to issuefrom the house. This visual signal may always be noticed and no amountof noise in the street can obliterate the warning, as the signal is aconspicuous visible one. A represents the tire-engine house. B is one ofthe horse-stalls, and C the door to the stall which opens outwardly andwhich is arranged generally to be automaticallyopened by the sending inof the lire-alarm. X is a galvanic battery, and l 2 3 are circuit-wireswhich extend to the semaphore box and also connect through wires 1! and7) with a circuit-closing device on the stable-door. The wires 1 and 3(see Figs. 4t and 5) extend from the semaphore into the engine-house andconnect with the battery X and circuit-closing device as follows: \V ire1 goes directly to one terminal of the circuit-closing device at thestabledoor through thewire connectionmand wire 3 goes first to one poleof the battery and then through the battery and wire to the otherterminal of the circuit-closing device. Any switch device may beemployed; but I. have shown an old form of switch or circuit-closer inFig. 5, which acts automatically. A metal frame D carries a hanging andpivoted arm I), which has an enlargement (a at its upper end and afoldinglea'fdatitslower end. This leaf is so articulated that it lockswith and moves the arm I) when pressed in one direction and foldsindependently in the other direction without moving arm 1). On the upperpart of the frame D is a block 7 of insulation on which is mounted theterminal spring-contact c, which connects with the wire I), and whichterminal a is immediately above the enlargement 0, which is electricallyconnected with the wire a. The folding leaf (Z is in range to be engagedby the stable-door C whenever it opens in the direction of the arrow,and when this leaf is thus pressed outwardly it locks with and turnsarm 1) and causes the enlargement 0 to touch the spring 0', and thusbrings together the two terminals of the battery-circuit which energizesan electromagnet of the semaphore-box and drops the signal-arm. hen thestabledoor C closes, it simply defleets the leaf (Z and passes by thesame without turning the arm 1).

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate the semaphore-operatingmechanism, at is a base upon which is mounted a small electric motor 5.S is the semaphore-arm, which is arranged outside the semaphore-box onthe post. 6 is an operating-plate for raismg and lowering thesemaphore-arm. 7 1s an electromagnet which is operated by thecircuit-closer on the stall-door of the enginehouse and whichelectromagnet in turn trips a locking device and also operates aswitchlever that directs the electric current through the motor, whichmotor is geared to the semaphore-operating plate 6.

The electrical connection of the semaphorebox to the engine-house ismade as follows: The three wires 1 2 3, which run to the semaphore-box,are connected as follows: lVire 1 goes to a binding-post 1 and oneterminal of the electromagnet 7, wire 2 runs to the binding-post 2 onthe base, and wire 3 runs to the binding-post 3 on the base. The otherterminal of electromagnet 7 connects by wire 8 with a handle-switch 9,which normally rests on a plate 10 in electrical connection with thebinding-post 3 and wire 3, so that wires 1 and 3 running from theengine-house stall-door control the electromagnet 7. The bindingpost 2connects by wire 11 with one pole of the motor and the other pole of themotor connects by wire 12 with the plate 13 of the two insulated springplates 13 13, forming a switch. The other spring-plate, which isparallel and close to 13, is connected by wire 14 with the handle-switch9, plate 10, the binding-posts 3, and wire 3. It will therefore be seenthat the wires 2 and 3 from the enginehouse control the motor and causethe same above to electrically connect them. To pull it into thiscontact, a pullrod 16 is connected to the lever at one end and at theother end is connected to the armature-lever 17, which is in front ofthe poles of the electromagnet T. This armature-lever is normally heldaway from the poles of the magnet against a stop 18 by a helical spring19 and tension-adjusting screw 20; but when the electromagnet isenergized the armature-lever is pulled toward its poles and theswitch-lever 15 is made to close the motor-circuit through theswitchplates 13 and 13. At the same moment the circuit is made throughthe motor certain locking devices for the semaphorearm are released,which I will now describe.

As already described, the semaphore-arm is lifted and dropped by theoperating-plate 6. This plate is a disk formed with an eccentricprojection having a wrist-pin bearing a roller 21. This plate revolvesin the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1 and 3 and the roller strikesagainst a bent arm 22 on the semaphore and holds it normally in itselevated position, as shown. The plate 6 is locked in this positionexcept when the signal is to be made effective by the opening of thestalldoor, and then the further revolution of the plate causes theroller to pass off the end of the bent arm of the semaphore and thelatter is allowed to drop. The means by which this action is effectedare as follows: The plate 6 (see Fig. 3) is rigidly fixed to a shaft 23,bearing a worm-wheel 24. A worm 25 on a right angular shaft 26 aboveengages this worm-wheel, and this right-angular shaft in turn bears aworm-wheel 27, engaged by a worm 28 on the extended end of thearmature-shaft 28 of the motor, so that the speed of the motor may besufliciently reduced and a relatively small motor is made to exercisesuflicient power to lift the semaphore-arm. On the inner side of theoperating-plate 6 there is rigidly fixed a circular flange 29, which iscut away between the points :1? :1; in Fig. 1n the gap in the flange isarranged a yielding circular slide 30, which is held to the forwardposition by a coil-spring 31 and curved arm 31, so as to close the gapinthe flange except for a small opening shown at y. Into this opening (seeFig. 2) a locking-lug 32 on the switch-lever 15 is allowed to penetratewhen the switchlever is out of the switch above. \Vhen, however, thisswitch-lever is pulled by the magnet 7 to close the switch above, thelug 32 is simultaneously withdrawn from the opening in the flange of theoperating-plate to allow it to turn from the action of the motor. Afterthis lug is withdrawn from the opening in the flange it rides on theedge of the flange until the plate makes nearly a complete revolution,and then the lug again drops into the opening in the flange again; butit does not immediatelystop the motor, but does so with a gradualcushioned effect by virtue of the yielding stopslide 30.

If it were not for this cushioned slide acting as a stop, the momentumof the motor-armature after the current was cut oil would jam the flangeso hardv against the lug or the switch-lever as to produce destructivestrains and also pinch and hold the switch-lever so tightly that theelectromagnet could not pull the lug away from the end of the flange atthe next signaling movement.

The semaphore may be of any material, but as shown it is made ofaluminium for lightness, with stil'lening-i'langes along the edges. Ithas a metal fulcrum-head 33, which is pivoted on a bolt 3% in a strongupright standard 35, and on the opposite side of the stand ard a boss orhub 36, Fig. 1, is carried by this bolt, around which boss is wound thespiral convolutions of a stout spring 37. One arm, 37", of this springis extended to and hooked in an opening at the inner end of thesemaphore, and the other end of the spring is hooked into a metal bar38, whose lower end is bent at right angles and bears against an:uljusting-screw 39. This spring serves to oppose the weight or thesemaphore, so as to reduce the work which the motor has to perform inlifting the semaphore and also retards and cushions the blowo't' thesemaphore in falling. The tension which this spring we crts on thesemaphore may be regulated at will by the set-screw 39, so as to almostperfectly balance the semaphore, thus contribut ing to its longevity andthe ease of working the same.

To render the semaphore effective in the night-time, an electric lamp40, Fig. 1, is arranged in red glass in the outer end of the semaphore.Two wires etl and &1 lead from the poles of the lamp to two insulatedcontact plates 42 and 4-2 on the lower edge of the inner portion of thesemaphore, and these two plates when the semaphore falls drop betweenand come into contact with two corresponding plates 43 43, which bywires 14 and 4 1 are connected, respectively, to the hinding-posts 2 and3, which supply the motor. lVhen, therefore, the electromagnet isinitially operated through its wires 1 and 3 to unlock the semapl'ioremechanism and start the motor and is then cut out by the circuitbreakerat the stall-door, the current then coming over wires 2 and to thebindingposts 2 and 3" divides at these points and goes partly throughthe motor and partly tliirongh the shmit-wires 14; and ist" to light theelectrical lamp in the fallen semaphore.

it it be desired at any time to cut out the semaphore mechanism, so thatthe arm shall not drop, as when cleaning the stall or exercising thehorses, the handle-switch 9 is simply removed from the suhjacent plate10, and the electromagnet-circuit and the motor-circuit are therebybroken.

As an adjunct to the semaphore, to give andible evidence oi the dangerposition of the semaplmre, a mechanical or jingle hell or electric bellmay be set into action by its fall; but as such devices are well knownand not claimed as new I. have not considered it necessary to show them.

In referring to the application ol my invention to a lire-engine houselwould have it understood that it is meant to include also the houseswhich contain the truck or hook-andladder apparatus as well.

In delining my invention with greater clearness 1 would state that l amaware that electrically-operated semaphores have long been used alongthe lines of railways and that antomatic circuitclosing switches havealso been employed in various ways, and I make no claim to thesefeatures broadly. I do not know, however, that the special combinationsof devices adopted for the use described have ever been known or used,and they constitute my new and valuable invention. 1. do not conline myinvention, however, to the exact construction and arrangement of partsshown, as they may be varied in many details without departing from thescope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is----- 1. An indicator -signal fora-lireengine house, comprising a pivoted semaphorearm, an electric motorfor operating the same, a locking device for the motor mechanism. atripping device t'or the locking device, an electromagnet controllingthe tripping de vice, a post carrying these semaphore devices locatednear the streetcurb, circuit wires extending therefrom to the stall-doorot the engil'ie-house, and a circuit-closing device arranged to beoperated by the opening of the stall-door, substantially as described.

52. An electric imlicat'or-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm,an electric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking devicefor the electric motor arranged to stop the same when theS0]llitl'dlOl'O-fllni is in elevated position, a tripping device't'orthe locking device for releasing the same, an electromagnet controllingthe tripping device, an electric circuit extending from saidelectromagnet to the stall-door, and a circuit-closing device arrangedto be closed by the opening ol the stall-door, substantially asdescribed.

3. An electric imlicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, anelectric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking device forthe electric motor arranged to stop the same when the semaphore-arm isin elevated position, a tripping device for the locking device forreleasii'ig the same, an electromagnet controlling the tripping device,an electric circuit for the electromagnet, a separate electric circuitfor the motor, and an aui tomatic switch for closing the motor-circuit 3by the unlocking movement of the tripping device substantially asdescribed.

4. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm,bearing an electric lamp with two circuit-wires and twocontactterminals, a base bearing an electric motor and two binding-postsand two contact-terminals arranged in a shunt-circuit of thebinding-posts and adapted to coact with the contact-terminals of thesemaphore-arm, mechanism controlled by the electric motor for raisingand dropping the semaphore-arm, a looking device for the electric motorarranged to stop the same when the semaphore is in elevated position, atripping device for the looking device for releasing the same, anelectro magnet controlling the tripping devices, an electric circuit forthe electromagnct, a second electric circuit for the motor, and anautomatic switch arranged to close the motor-circuit by the unlockingmovement of the tripping deviccs substantially as described.

5. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, anelectric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking device forthe electric motor arranged to stop the same when the semaphore-arm isin elevated position, said locking device being constructed as ayielding stop to take up the final momentum revolutions of the motor, atripping device for the locking device and an electromagnet controllingthe same substantially as described.

6. In an electric indicator-signal, the com bination with the motor andthe semaphorearm; of a lifting, locking, and dropping device for saidarm consisting of a revolving plate having an eccentric-bearing foracting upon the semaphore and a circular flange on its side with anopening or gap in the same, a locking and tripping lug arranged to dropinto "the gap in the circular flange, and a yielding andcircularly-moving stop bearing on the plate adapted to receive thecontact of the locking-lug and take up the momentum force of the motorduring its final revolutions v in coming to rest as described. 7. In anelectric indicator-signal, the coml bination with the motor mechanism,the piv oted semaphore-arm and thelifting and dropping mechanism for thesame: of a support to which the semaphore-arm is pivoted, a boss locatedat the pivotal point of said support, a coil-spring wound around theboss and having one end extended and secured to the semaphore-arm, and atension-adjusting bar hung on the semaphore-support and locked to theother end of the coil-spring and having a set-screw at its free endarranged to deflect said bar to regulate the tension of the springsubstantially as described.

8. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, anelectric motor for operating the same, starting, stopping, and lockingdevices for the same, an electromagnet for controlling the startingdevice, a post carrying these devices located at the street-curb, afire-engine house having its horse-stall door provided with an automaticcircuit-closer, a source of electromotive force and circuit-wiresrunning from the street semaphore to the circuit-closing devices at thestall-door substantially as described.

9. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-armbearing an electric lamp with contact-terminals, a base havingcorresponding contact-terminals, an electric motor for raising anddropping the arm, starting, stopping and locking devices for the motor,an electromagnet for controlling the starting device, a support in thestreet for carrying all of these devices, a tire-engine house withstall-door provided with a circuitcloser, three wires running from theexternal semaphore to the interior of the engine-house and forming twocircuits, one of which is extended to the stall-door, to be under thecontrol of its circuit-closer and connects with and operates thestarting-electromagnet of the semaphore, and the other of which circuitsextends to and operates the motor and the electric lamp, and a source ofelectromotive force for actuating said devices substantially as shownand described.

GEORGE W. PETTEY. Witnesses:

SOLON (J. Kmiox, EDWD. \V. Bra-

